Kejri asks L-G to tell DDA to pay property tax dues

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to L-G Najeeb Jung, asking him to intervene to end the financial crisis being faced by the three municipal corporations. Kejriwal has asked Jung to direct the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to release `1,600 crore, which they owe to the three civic bodies.

“Due to financial crunch the municipal corporations are unable to meet their core functions related to handling and removal of garbage. Often the municipal corporations delay paying monthly salaries to Safai Karamcharis (sanitation workers) which leads to threats of strikes by them,” Kejriwal said in the letter.

He also said Delhi government has made efforts to release funds and grants under Plan and Non-Plan heads to all the three municipal corporations in time. “It is informed that DDA owes more than `1,600 crores to them in property tax,” Kejriwal said.

Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay, however, criticised the as a proof of Kejriwal’s total disregard for federal democratic values.

“If DDA owes any dues, Kejriwal has all the right to raise the matter but then bodies like Delhi Transco, Delhi Jal Board and power discoms in which Delhi government is a partner and the Vat department too owe huge property tax dues to all three municipal bodies,” he said.